The four North Carolina High School Athletic Association Baseball State Championship Series started on Friday evening at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs and Burlington Athletic Stadium. Four teams are now one step closer to an NCHSAA state championship. See below for full recaps of each series opener.
1A Baseball Championship
GAME 1: Uwharrie Charter edges past North Moore in 1A Championship Series opener
HOLLY SPRINGS – An eventful third inning made the difference as the Uwharrie Charter Eagles topped the North Moore Mustangs 2-1 in the first game of the 1A NCHSAA Championship Series at Ting Stadium
The Mustangs broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third as SS Ty Allred, who went 2-for-2 reached with a leadoff single and then came around to score on a single from Elliot Furr.
In the bottom of the inning, DH Caleb McDaniel drew a leadoff walk and Peyton McCullom followed with a single. Both would touch the plate as Troy Carver and Ben Medinger followed suit with singles of their own in the next two at-bats.
Those would prove to be the final runs of the game but the Mustangs threatened in the bottom of the seventh. 1B Dawson Futrell hit a lead-off single and reached third base after Allred was intentionally walked. The Eagles turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and seal the win.
The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with the NC Farm Bureau to honor two student-athletes at each of this year’s championships with Sportsmanship Awards for excellence throughout the season. The 1A Baseball Sportsmanship Award winners were Will Kennedy from North Moore and Chris Wheat from Uwharrie Charter.
GAME 2: Uwharrie Charter sweeps North Moore for 1A Crown
HOLLY SPRINGS – The Uwharrie Charter Eagles topped the North Moore Mustangs 8-1 on Saturday at Ting Stadium to earn the program’s second 1A NCHSAA Baseball Championship.
North Moore broke the ice as Bradley Mauldin hit an RBI double that scored Ethan Dunlap in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Eagles took control of the game in the third inning as each of the first three batters – Carter Brown, Jake Hunter and Landen Zephir – each had a base hit and came around to score. Ben Medinger also singled later in the inning and scored when Walker Wilkins doubled.
Brown, who was named MVP for the Championship Series, scored again in the fourth inning to push the lead to 5-1.
Medinger scored again in the fifth as well as Grat Dalton to give the Eagles a 7-1 lead and Troy Carver scored the final run of the game in the sixth.
Eagles pitcher Brett Smith tossed a complete game and gave up just four hits in the championship-sealing win.
The Mustangs finished the season 22-10 and made their first appearance in an NCHSAA Championship Series. The Eagles also wrapped 2023 at 22-10.
2A Baseball Championship
GAME 1: Burns’ big inning leads to 2A Championship Series Game One win
HOLLY SPRINGS – A six-run fourth inning powered the Burns Bulldogs to a 6-1 win against the South Granville Vikings in Game One of the 2A NCHSAA Championship series at Ting Stadium.
The Vikings took the lead in the top of the third inning as starting pitcher Cade Currin hit a solo home run but that lead only lasted until the Burns’ bats came to life in the bottom of the fourth. CF Ben Mauney had two RBIs in the frame and 1B Marshall McGowan, C Reid Stroupe and 2B Nick Williams each added one more as the Bulldogs took control of the game.
Burns’ Colby Putnam tossed a complete game to earn the Game One win. He allowed one run on four hits while striking out five batters. He needed only 78 pitches to finish the game and threw only 20 balls in the contest.
The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with the NC Farm Bureau to honor two student-athletes at each of this year’s championships with Sportsmanship Awards for excellence throughout the season. The 2A Baseball Sportsmanship Award winners were Riley Newton from South Granville and Josh Powell from Burns.
GAME 2: Burns wins first Baseball Championship after sweep in 2A Series
HOLLY SPRINGS – Another big inning propelled the Burns Bulldogs to 9-5 win against the South Granville Vikings and the 2A NCHSAA Championship on Saturday at Ting Stadium.
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead right away as Ben Mauney doubled in the first at-bat of the game and scored when Ethan Guy bounced out later in the inning. In the third, Burns blew the game open with a five-run rally. Colby Putnam, who was the MVP of the series, pushed across a pair of runs to start the third-inning rally and then scored when Reid Stroupe drew a bases-loaded walk.
Camden Mackall singled home Hagan Hoyle and Josh Taylor to put the Bulldogs in front 6-0 and they never looked back.
The Vikings fought to stay in the game and plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to RBIs from Riley Newton and Josiah Morris. South Granville added one run in fifth, sixth and seventh innings but never pulled any closer than four runs.
For the game, Marshall McGowan went 3-for-5 with two runs for the Bulldogs and six other Burns batters finished with a pair of hits, including Guy who finished with three RBIs.
The Bulldogs finished the season 28-4, while the Vikings ended 2023 with a record of 22-6.
3A Baseball Championship
GAME 1: West Henderson claims Game One of the 3A Championship Series
BURLINGTON – The West Henderson Falcons took advantage of a hot start and won Game One of the 3A NCHSAA Championship Series 6-2 over J.H. Rose at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
The Falcons scored in each of the first two innings and added three more in the fourth to take a comfortable 5-0 lead. The Rampants plated a pair of runs in the fifth, but pitcher Truitt Manuel kept J.H. Rose in check the rest of the way.
Manuel twirled a gem for the Falcons as he went the distance and struck out ten batters while giving up just two runs on six hits.
Offensively for the Falcons, C Alex Anderson went 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs and two runs scored, including a home run. LF Jackson Lyda also went 2-for-4 on the night and Manuel helped his own cause with a pair of RBIs.
For the Rampants, SS Alex Popovich went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with the NC Farm Bureau to honor two student-athletes at each of this year’s championships with Sportsmanship Awards for excellence throughout the season. The 3A Baseball Sportsmanship Award winners were Jesse Baldwin from West Henderson and Cameron Dally from J.H. Rose.
GAME 2: West Henderson grabs 3A Crown with sweep of J.H. Rose
BURLINGTON – The West Henderson Falcons followed up Friday night’s 6-2 win with a 2-1 win on Saturday afternoon at Burlington Athletic Stadium against J.H. Rose to win the 3A NCHSAA State Championship.
The Falcons took the lead on Saturday in the bottom of the first inning as C Alex Anderson scored on an error. In the third, Anderson, who was named MVP of the series, singled home Eli Shinn to give West Henderson a 2-0 lead.
The Rampants cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth when Mitch Jones hit a solo home run to left field but that proved to be J.H. Rose’s only run of the game. Falcon starting pitcher Nicky Stanko earned the win as he tossed 6.1 innings and allowed the one run on seven hits.
For the game, SS Jackson Lyda and LF Jude Lyda each went 2-for-3. Rampants Jones, Ives Howard and Alex Popovich all pitched in a pair of hits.
West Henderson ended the season 27-5 and left Burlington with their second NCHSAA State Championship and first since 1992. Rose, the 2021 state champions, finished 2023 at 26-4.
4A Baseball Championship
GAME 1: T.C. Roberson takes 1-0 lead over Wake Forest in 4A Championship Series
BURLINGTON — The T.C. Roberson Rams bats were hot and the pitching was hotter as they took the first game of the best of three series against the Wake Forest Cougars 10-0 on Friday evening at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
Starting pitcher Micah Simpson worked all five innings and allowed just two hits while walking three and striking out three. He needed just 73 pitches to finish off the Cougars, 42 of which went for strikes.
Offensively for the Rams, SS Nick Parham went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. 3B Zeb Swangim also went 2-for-3 and scored three times and Simpson helped his own cause with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with a pair of RBIs.
For the Cougars, SS Ethan Brittain went 1-for-1 with a double and a walk and Stephen Crater had the team’s only other hit.
The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with the NC Farm Bureau to honor two student-athletes at each of this year’s championships with Sportsmanship Awards for excellence throughout the season. The 4A Baseball Sportsmanship Award winners were Tyler Kytta from T.C. Roberson and Cooper Allen from Wake Forest.
GAME 2: Wake Forest forces Game Three in 4A Championship Series
BURLINGTON – The Wake Forest Cougars bounced back in the second game of the 4A NCHSAA Championship Series with a 3-1 win to force a decisive Game Three at Burlington Athletic Park.
T.C. Roberson struck first as R Jeter doubled home courtesy runner Z Adwaters in the top of the first inning but Wake Forest’s C Allen did not allow another run the rest of the game. Allen tossed a complete game and gave up the lone run on five hits while striking out 10 batters.
Offensively for the Cougars, Allen helped his own cause as he went 2-for-3 with an RBI. RF J Bradbury also added an RBI for Wake Forest.
GAME 3: T.C. Roberson rallies, wins fifth NCHSAA Baseball state title
BURLINGTON – The T.C. Roberson Rams overcame an early hole to beat the Wake Forest Cougars 7-3 in Game Three of the 4A NCHSAA Championship Series at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
The Cougars jumped out strong as Luke Stevenson hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning. In the second, Lorenzo Lyles laid a bunt down the third base line that prompted an error and allowed Jake Parham to score the Rams’ first run of the game. In the next at-bat, Zeb Swangim doubled to center to score both Lyles and JT Gordon and tie the score.
In the fourth, the Rams loaded up the bases and Caden Davidson singled to score Carson Heath and give T.C. Roberson the lead. Two batters later, Micah Simpson hit a pinch-hit double that cleared the bases and put the Rams in front 7-3.
Simpson’s five RBI in the series earned him MVP honors.
For the Cougars, Stevenson finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
The Rams finished the season 26-8 and head back to Asheville with their fifth NCHSAA baseball championship. The Cougars wrapped the 2023 season at 26-7.
